Gearing device.



G. W. `LEWIS.

GEARING nEvlcE.

WITNESSES:

G. W. LEWIS.

l GEAmNG nEvlcE. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 6. I9I2.

1,21 1,723. Patented Jan. 9,1917. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2. 5

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vide a single cover and dolly for use in con- UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIoE.

GEORGE W. LEWIS, OF GRINNELL, IOWA, ASSIGNOR TO GRINNEIL WASHING MACHINE COMPANY, OF GBINNELL, IOWA, A CORPORATION.

GEARING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 9, 1917'.

Application filed November 6, 1912.` lSerialvllo. 729,897.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be itV lmown that I, GEORGE W. LEWIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Grinnell, in the county of Poweshiek and State of Iowa, have invented a certain new and useful Gearing Device, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of gearing devices which are especially designed to be used in connection with power driven washing machines and wringers therefor.

My object is to provide a device of this kind in which a number of tubs may be arranged on a Single main support and then the work of washing and wringing clothes may be carried on progressively from one tub to another and the wringing of clothes may be done from any one of the tubs into another regardless of whether or not the washing mechanism is being operated.

More specifically it is my object to pronection with a number of tubs, and a Single wringer with a reverse gear mechanism for use in connection with a number of tubs, which wringer may be positioned to operate on the clothes that are being removed from the tub on which the cover is placed for the time being or from any of the other tubs, whereby and by the use of a single dolly and a single wringer, the various steps in the process of washing and wringing clothes may be carried on by the operator without any shifting of the tubs upon the support. My invention consists in certain details, in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a side elevation of a platform and gearing device for washing machines embodying my invention. Fig. 2 shows a top or plan view' of said platform illustrating particularly the collapsible portion thereof. Fig. 3 shows another side elevation of said device, the dotted lines showing the cover in one position and the full lines showing the cover in another position of its movement. Fig. 4 shows a dfetail, Sectional view of part of the -platform frame and one of the sliding bars whereby the collapsibleportion thereof is mounted legs 18.

on the main body of the frame. Fig. 5 shows aj central, vertical, sectional view throughthe gear casing at the upper end of thejbentral supporting post taken on the line ,g5-5 of Fig. 2, the wringer being Shown at `right angles to the position shown at Fig. 2, and Fig. 6 shows a sectional view through thef,` gear casing for the wringer gears.

The main body of my improved platform comprises longitudinal frame members which are indicated in the accompanying drawings by the reference numeral 10. Connecting the frame members 10 are the transe verse'frame members 11, and supporting'the main body of the frame are legs 12 which are reinforced by braces 13. The frame members may be' made of angle iron or any other suitable material. The collapsible portion of my platform comprises a longitudinal member 15 and transverse bars or frame members 16 which are Slidably mounted in the frame members of the main body of the platform. The inner ends of the frame members 16 are preferably bent at right angles to the main portions thereof, as shown at 17 in Fig. 4, to prevent the entire withdrawal of the members 16 from the frame members of the main body of the platform. The member 15 is supported by The leg 18 is connected with the adjacent leg 12 of the permanent portion of the platform at each end thereof by means of links 19 and 20 which are pivoted together at their inner ends and pivoted to the legs 18 and 12 respectively at their outer ends and are designed to fold upwardly when the legs 18 are moved toward the legs 12. Each end of the member 15 is also connected to the permanent portioir ilof the frame by a hinged joint comprising links 21 and 22 which are pivoted together and to the member 15 and to the permanent portion of the platform respectively. The links 21 and 22 are arranged to collapse or fold in a horizontal plane and the links 19 and 20 are arranged to collapse in a vertical plane. It will therefore be seen that the collapsible portion of the platform may be folded or collapsed thereby reduci'ng the platform to ap roximately half its maximum size.

upported on the permanent portion of the platform` is a motor 23. Rotatably mounted beneath the top of the permanent platform is a shaft 24, on the outer end of ed an extensible coil which is a pulley 25 which is operatively connected with the motor by means of a belt 26. At the middle of the permanent portion of the platform and near the edge thereof adjacent to the collapsible portionv is an upright bearing or sleeve 27 in which vis rotatably mounted a shaft 28. On the inner end of the shaft 24 is a beveled gear 29 and on the lower end of the shaft 28 is a beveled gear 30 in mesh A t the upper end of the sleeve 27 is acollar comprising an internally screw-threaded sleeve 32 screwed upon the upper end of the sleeve 27 and having at its upper end an annular horizontal flange 3l. 'At the outer edge of the flange 31 is an annular downwardly extending liange 33 provided with a plurality of openings 34, which will be hereinafter more fully explained. Resting above the collar 31 is a cylinder 34 having on one side a downwardly extending flange 35. The cylinder 34 is designed to turn freely on the collar 30 about the shaft 28. Extending laterally from the cylinder 34 isa bracket 36 secured to which is a horizontal support or board 37. Slidably mounted beneath the board 37 is a rod 38, the outer end of which is preferably turned downwardly at 39. The inner end of the rod 38 is designed to be received in the openings 34a of the flange 33 in different positions ofthe rotation of the cylinder 34. For yieldingly holding the rod 38 at the inward position of its movement, I have fixed on said rod a collar 40 and between the collar 40 and a downwardly extending flange or bearing 41 on the board 37, I havemountspring Y42. Fixed on the shaft 28 within the cylinder 34 is a horizontal beveled gear 43. A horizontal shaft 44 is rotatably mounted in a bearing formed in the wall of the cylinder 34 and is provided at its inner end with a vertical beveled gear 45 in mesh with the beveled gear 43 as shown in Fig. 5. I provide a tub cover 46 which is hinged to the board 37 by means of a hinge 47 and is also pivotally mounted on the bearing 48at of the shaft 44 by means of a hinge strap 48 and forms a support for the dolly mechanism hereinafter mentioned. The outer end of thev shaft 44 is operatively connected with a dolly shaft 49. The piv- Otal points 47 and 48 are in alinement with each other.

It will be seen that the tub cover 46 may be rotated on the shaft 28 as desired. Upon the permanent platform, I have mounted a tub body 50 which is hinged to the permanent platform by suitable hinges 51 to permit the tub tol tilt for emptying the water therein. Any number of tub bodies may be placed upon the platform and the cover 46 may be turned about the shaft 28 to be used with any. of the tub bodies. In Fig. 3, I have shown the tub 50 in full lines and have with the beveled gear 29.V

the purpose of 1 jacent to a sector 68 flange 54 and extending upwardly therefrom is a cylinder 56 lprovided with a detachable cover 57. It. will be understood that the cylinders 34 and 56 serve as gear casings and also as bearings for the various shafts herein described.

Mounted on the shaft 28 above the flange 54 within the cylinder 56 is a beveled gear 85 58. Formed on the cylinder 56 is a bracket 59 secured to which is a wringer 60. The shaft 61 of the lower wringer roll extends through the walls of the cylinder 56 which form'bearings for said shaft. Slidably, but non-rotatably mounted on the shaft 61 is a hub 62, formed on each end of which is a beveled gear 63. The gears 63 and 58 are so arranged that whenthe hub 62 is moved to different positions of its movement either of the gears 63 may be held in mesh with the gear 58 or the gears 63 may be held in neutral position.

The hub 62 is operated by the following means: A lever 64 has one round end 64a 100 which is pivoted oft1 center to the casing v56 and extends to a point between the gears 63 adjacent to the hub 62 to permit the free rotation thereof but in such a manner as to 'control the sliding motion of said hub on the 105 shaft 61. The lever 64 extends through an opening 65 in the cover 57 and is pivote at its outer end to a laterally extending rod 66,

the other end of which rod 66 is pivoted to a lever 67, one end of which is pivoted to the wringer 60 at 67a.` The lever 67 is of somewhat resilient material and is mounted adhaving a laterally extending flange providedv with notches to receive a lug on the lever 67.

It will be understood that any suitable means for operating the hub 62 may be employed. In the upper end of the cylinder or gear casing 34, I have provided a plurality of openings 70. l

Mounted in the frame of the wringer 60 is a slidable rod 71, one end of which is designed to beireceived in the openings 7 0 and which is held at the inward limit of its movement by an expansible coil spring 72.

It will be understood thatthe cylinder 56 may be rotated freely on the shaft 28 and thewringer 60 may be thereby swung to any suitable or desirable position.

i 38. The wringer 60 may vice, the cover 46 may movedto position for use with the tub 56 or may be used on any other tub placed on the platform. The beveled gear 45 is always in mesh with the beveled gear 43 and the board 37 4and the hinged cover 4.6 may be secured in the various positions of their movement around the center Vpost by means of the sliding rod be turned around the center post to any desired position and may be securedin various positions of its movement by'means of the sliding rod 71. The wringer may be rotated in either direction or may be held neutral by a manipulation of the lever 67, whereby the hub 62 is controlled. The wringer 60 may be used over the tub 50 or over a basket 7 5, as shown in Fig. 1.

The advantages of my improved device, in cases where a large amount of washing is done, may be seen from the foregoing description. The collapsible portion of the platform may be used or not. .Additional tubs or baskets may be placed upon the cross members 11 of the permanent platform or upon the cross bars 16 of the collapsible platform, and the size of the platform may be varied as desired. The tub 5()l may be tilted for emptying and is yalways in position for use. The tub 50 may be used until the clothes in it are washed and the cover 46 may then be swung over another tub and the dolly operated in theseco-nd tub, andthe operator may, at the same time, wring the clothes from the tub 50 into a basket supported upon the platform.

For the purpose of more clearly interpreting the claims, it may the term main support as employed in the claims, I refer to the frame on which the tubs are mounted. By the term containers, as used in the claims, I mean tubs or their equivalents. By the term rst operating device as employed in the claims, I mean a dolly and its operating mechanism, or an equivalent thereof, and by the term second operating d evice as employed in the claims, I meana wringer and its operating mechanism or an equivalent.

In the disclosures of this application, I

have set forth amain support containing tubs arranged in a circle around a central point, but I do not desire to be understood as limiting myself to this arrangement.

I claim as my invention:

' the class described, a tub, an upright support, a horizontal member rotatably mounted upon said support to swing in a horizontal plane, a cover hinged to said horizontal member, an upright shaft in said cover, an agitator operatively connectedv'therewith, and means for imparting v upright,

' gearing device support, a cover be explained that by alternate rotary motion. to said upright Shaft.

2. In a device of the class described, a frame, an upright thereon, a tub supported on said frame adjacent to said upright, a horizontal member mounted on said upright and adapted to swing in a horizontal plane, a cover hinged to said horizontal member, an agitator supported by said cover, a gearing device on said upright, and means for operatively connecting said gearing device and said/agitator.

3. In a device of theclass described, an

a tubl adj aeent thereto, a cover supported from said upright and adaptedv to swing in a horizontalmplane from-position over said tub to position, away from the tub, an agitator supported by said cover, a

gearing device supported by said cover, a'

device `supported for operatively with said agitator.

4e. In a device of the class described, a support adapted to receive a plurality of tubs, an upright member on said support, a horizontal member mounted thereon for rotation-in a horizontal plane around the member pivoted to said horizontal` member adapted to be moved to position above the tubs in various positions of said support, an agitator mounted in said cover member, a gearing device on said upright, and means for operatively connecting said gearing device with said agitator.

5. In a device of the class described, a tub, a support, a shaft rotatably mounted therein, a bevel pinion on said shaft, a horizontal flange upon said support having a cyliudricai member provided with notches, a cylindrical casing rotatably mounted upon said horizontal iiange, said casing being provided with a horizontal bracket, a spring actuated. latch in said bracket designed to engage the notcha within the said flange to lock the said bracket against rotation, a horizontal member secured to said bracket, a cover hinged to said horizontal member, a dolly shaft in said cover, a dolly on sai shaft, a pinion on said dolly sh ft, a rack in mesh with said pinion, a horizontal crank shaft rotatably mounted on said horizontal member, a pinion on one end of said horizontal shaft designed to mesh with the pin ion on said driving shaft to impart rotary motion thereto, Va link connecting said cran and said rack to impart alternate rotary motion -to said dolly shaft.

DesfMoines, Iowa, Oct. 3, 1912.

' GEORGE W. LEWIS.

Witnesses:

W. S.. DODGE,

gearing by` said upright,

and means connecting said l 

